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Collections of college and personal papers, as well as a select number of individual documents, have been briefly described in entries available for browsing and searching on this site. All collection and document descriptions contain a representative image and a summary of the contents. 

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January 13, 1813

Lawyer and banker Roger Brooke Taney writes to an unspecified Mr. Pringle, concerning a legal case and attending court.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-Friends-1983-15

Subject: Legal Affairs

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Roger B. Taney to Mr. Pringle

January 14, 1813

Attorney Roger Brooke Taney writes to Clotworthy Birnie with legal advice about Birnie's appeal of the Levy Court's decision regarding damages from road construction. Transcript included.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-SpahrB-undated-39

Subject: Business and Industry, Legal Affairs

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Roger B. Taney to Clotworthy Birnie

January 27, 1813

This affidavit involves the case of Alexander Warfield v. William W. King and Charles Miles, which is a dispute about a debt owed to the late John W. Warfield. Roger Brooke Taney serves as the plaintiff's attorney. Transcript included.

Format: Legal and Government Documents

Location: I-SpahrB-undated-36

Subject: Economics and Finance, Legal Affairs

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Legal Document, Alexander Warfield v. William King and Charles Miles

May 19, 1813

Attorney Roger Brooke Taney writes to Independent Gist and provides legal advice on Gist's suit against Wells regarding the sale of an "unsound" slave. Transcript included.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-SpahrB-undated-42

Subject: Business and Industry, Legal Affairs

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Roger B. Taney to Independent Gist

September 30, 1813

This copy of the printed program for the 1813 commencement exercises shows the members of the graduating class and the presentations that they and other speakers were scheduled to deliver.

Format: Memorabilia and Ephemera

Location: Dickinsoniana Programs

Subject: Dickinson College Events

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: 1813 Commencement Program

July 1, 1814

Callender Irvine writes to Alexander J. Dallas about settlement of the account of Tench Coxe. As money is owed to the United States, Irvine notes that the possibility of a lawsuit exists. On July 2, 1814, Dallas replies to Irvine regarding this legal issue.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-SpahrB-1966-8

Subject: Legal Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Callender Irvine to Alexander Dallas

July 20, 1814

Attorney Roger Brooke Taney writes to Clotworthy Birnie, a client, telling him that he should arrive to court early because the witnesses in his case have presumably been summoned already.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-BonisteelR-1954-3

Subject: Legal Affairs

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Roger B. Taney to Clotworthy Birnie

October 4, 1814

William Wilkins writes William Tilghman and discusses the latest news about the War of 1812. While "no new of much importance" has been received, Wilkins mentions Native American "depredations" in Detroit and comments on British General Gordon Drummond's decision to end the siege of Fort Erie. "The Enemy...have been induced to this hasty retreat in consequence of [the] severe 'scratching' (to use a new military phrase)" after receiving news of the "very successful sortie made by General [Jacob] Brown," as Wilkins explains.

In addition, Wilkins also shares news about the possibility of ending the war with Great Britain. Albert Gallatin, one of the American diplomats in England, "writes that there is little or no prospect of peace," as Wilkins notes. Wilkins, a member of the Class of 1802, is an attorney in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Transcript included.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-SpahrB-1950-10

Subject: International Affairs, Military Affairs and Conflict

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from William Wilkins to William Tilghman

October 20, 1814

Richard Rush writes to Secretary of the Navy William Jones and recommends Horatio Stockton, son of New Jersey congressman Richard Stockton, for consideration for a position as a midshipman in the United States Navy.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-Friends-1976-5

Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Richard Rush to William Jones

November 10, 1814

Commissary General Callender Irvine (Class of 1794) writes Simon Philipson with instructions related to selling supplies to the government. “Please let the bearer have a sample of the buffalo hides w. you have proposed to sell to Govt, and let me know at the same time at what price you will deliver the whole quantity spoken of in [Philadelphia],” as Irvine explains.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-SpahrB-1958-4

Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Callender Irvine to Simon Philipson

December 31, 1814

Attorney Roger Brooke Taney writes to Clotworthy Birnie and discusses the suit against Dehoof as well as the resulting legal costs. While confident that Birnie will ultimately receive compensation, Taney also explains the possibility of settling the suit with a compromise before the February term.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-SpahrB-1964-5

Subject: Legal Affairs

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Roger B. Taney to Clotworthy Birnie

1815

Attorney Roger Brooke Taney writes this note to an unspecified Mr. Schley on the case Eva Danner by Zachariah Danner her next friend v. John Cook and Sarah his wife.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-KeatleyG-1971-1

Subject: Legal Affairs

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Legal Document, Danner v. Cook

1815

Attorney Roger Brooke Taney writes this note to an unspecified Mr. Ritchie on the case David Taney by his next friend Frederick Taney v. Barbara Boyer.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-KeatleyG-1971-1

Subject: Legal Affairs

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Legal Document, Taney v. Boyer

February 20, 1815 - March 6, 1816

Two legal documents, including an arrest warrant and an affidavit, regarding the case of Samuel Anderson v. Kinsey Gittings. Gittings is accused of assaulting Anderson. Roger Brooke Taney serves as the plaintiff's attorney. Transcript included.

Format: Legal and Government Documents

Location: I-SpahrB-undated-37

Subject: Legal Affairs, Personal and Family Life

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Legal Documents, Samuel Anderson v. Kinsey Gittings

February 21, 1815

A paper fragment with a note from lawyer Roger Brooke Taney, referring to the case of Romberg v. Krumps.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-Friends-1983-16

Subject: Legal Affairs

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Note from Roger B. Taney

May 30, 1815

Former President of the United States John Adams writes to his grandson, William Smith, about  his United States citizenship, and his lack of knowledge on what profession his grandson should pursue. Adams laments to inability to uncover a distinctive word to represent the American homeland, saying that "it is a common place observation that we have no word in our language that implies the exact Idea of the Patria of the Romans, the Faderland of the Dutch or the Patriae of the French."  Transcript included. 

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-SpahrB-1952-1

Subject: Education, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from John Adams to William Smith

June 9, 1815

Captain Zachary Taylor writes to Inspector General Daniel Parker and resigns from the United States Army. After seven years of exemplary service, Taylor believes that he should have received a higher rank and more recognition. If he stays in the military, Taylor notes that it would be "adding insult to injury." Transcript included.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-SpahrB-1953-17

Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Personal and Family Life

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Zachary Taylor to Daniel Parker

July 7, 1815

William Ramsey writes Secretary of War Alexander J. Dallas and discusses paying the soldiers. "As a precautionary measure I was to send on the Muster rolls for Mr. Brent's (master general) inspection so that he might approve of them so that we might rightly pay," as Ramsey explains. As no response had been received, Ramsey urged Secretary Dallas to force Brent to follow through on his part of their agreement. Transcript included.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-SpahrB-1965-21

Subject: Military Affairs and Conflict, Politics and Government

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from William Ramsey to Alexander Dallas

August 12, 1815

George Thomas Martin, a member of the Class of 1815, receives this diploma as a member of the Belles Lettres Society on August 12, 1815.

Format: Certificates and Diplomas

Location: Diploma Collection

Subject: Education

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Belles Lettres Society Diploma - George Martin

September 28, 1815

George Thomas Martin receives his Bachelor of Arts Diploma from Dickinson College on September 28, 1815.

Format: Certificates and Diplomas

Location: Diploma Collection

Subject: Education

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Bachelor of Arts Diploma - George Martin

November 25, 1815

Richard Rush writes to an unspecified "M. Carey." Rush desires to "cultivate... correspondence," although he will be busy for several months due to obligations with Congress and the Supreme Court.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-AsbellY-2002-40

Subject: Politics and Government

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Richard Rush to M. Carey

December 19, 1815

John A. Leamy writes James Hamilton Jr. and expresses his hopes to visit Carlisle again. In addition, Leamy informs Hamilton of Napoleon Bonaparte's downfall as the ruler of France.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-Original-1815-1

Subject: International Affairs, Personal and Family Life, Politics and Government

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from John Leamy to James Hamilton

1816

A six page bibliography of 75 books written by Dr. Joseph Priestley.

Format: Books and Pamphlets

Location: MC 1998.1, B1, F1

Subject: Education, Science and Technology

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Catalog of Books Written by Joseph Priestley

January 3, 1816

Attorney Roger Brooke Taney writes Independent Gist and advises him that, given the circumstances, the legislature would likely not act on a petition about a road where no notice has been given. Transcript included.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-SpahrB-1951-2

Subject: Land and Real Estate, Politics and Government

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Roger B. Taney to Independent Gist

February 13, 1816

Attorney Roger Brooke Taney writes to Independent Gist and offers legal advice as well as updates on recent cases. "I have brought the suit against Mordecai Gist for the Assault according to your directions," as Taney explains. Transcript included.

Format: Letters/Correspondence

Location: I-SpahrB-undated-42

Subject: Legal Affairs

Time Period: 1800-1819

View Item: Letter from Roger B. Taney to Independent Gist